NEWS

As a scientific consensus has developed around the existence of anthropogenic climate change, governments around the world have been taking steps to reduce their nations’ carbon emissions. A variety of methods exist to help curb carbon emissions, and many are currently in use, including:

The European Union has the longest running emissions trading system (ETS) in the world. In operation since 2005, the ETS is based on the idea of a “cap-and-trade” system and has been the European Union’s key measure to reduce carbon emissions. Within the ETS, the EU sets a limit on the total allowable emissions for each emitter, the “cap” in “cap-and-trade.” At the end of each year, the emitters, primarily factories and power plants, must deliver enough carbon allowances to the government to cover all of their emissions; otherwise they are subject to heavy fines. The “trade” comes in when a certain company’s emissions are lower, or higher than predicted. If they emit less than expected, they may sell their extra carbon allowances on the ETS market for additional revenue, and if they emit more, they must purchase additional allowances from the market. This system has reduced emissions by nearly 10% since inception, and is projected to result in even higher savings as the market for carbon allowances grow and mature.

More recently, the United States has developed Renewable Portfolio Standards throughout the country. The standards require that a certain amount of renewable energy, sometimes up to 50%, must be incorporated into power grids by a given deadline, usually 2020 or 2030. The government has also supported the Renewable Energy Industry with a variety of tax credits and adoption incentives for consumers, hoping to spur development in the near term. The most aggressive policy in the US for combatting climate change is President Barack Obama’s recently announced Climate Policy. The administration has supported a significant increase in vehicle fuel efficiency standards, widespread energy efficiency programs, and most importantly, a plan to reduce emissions from power plants.

In China, the central government has overseen the development of a pilot program for the upcoming emissions trading system. Driven by recent environmental concerns, the country has also put restrictions on vehicle fuel economy and power plant emissions. Perhaps the most drastic effort by the world’s largest emitter is the consideration of significant reductions in the amount of coal utilized by the country’s many coal-fired power plants.

With countries like the US and China taking strides to limit carbon emissions, there is plenty of momentum for new climate policies around the world. In Australia, recent surges in solar power installations and the adoption of a Renewable Energy Target of 20% by 2020 have set the tone for progress on climate change. However, the recent repeal of the carbon tax, one of the most progressive of its kind, has stalled the country’s prior advances. Without the carbon tax, the renewable energy industry is without a powerful ally, and the additional economic incentive for lower-emitting technologies.

Australia is certainly contributing towards the goal of reducing global carbon emissions, but without comprehensive and advanced policy initiatives like those in the USA and China, the country’s impact will be limited. The hope lies in the continued expansion of solar power in Australia, providing abundant, inexpensive, and carbon-free power to a growing economy. This, paired with a new carbon tax and/or trading system to support the development of a cleaner electricity grid would place Australia at the forefront of international climate policy and usher in a new era of sustainable growth.